South China Sea

China seems to be woefully oblivious to major lessons of United States belated entry in two Global wars of 20th Century to ensure global security, as it pursues incessant conflict escalation in the South China Sea.

On March 5, China declared one of its lowest increase in defence budget since it started modernization under Revolution in Military Affairs (RFA). The increase of 7.6 percent, taking defence spending for 2016 to approximately US $ 146 billion, is the first single digit increase in the last six years.

Rattled by growing US-India strategic convergence on South China Sea issue, China in a manifestation of its imperial inclinations towards India has recently resorted to issuing proxy injunctions through its state-run media organ ‘The Global Times’ warning India to desist from any joint initiatives with the United States.

China with its illegal occupation of Paracels and Spratly Islands followed by conflict escalation in enlarging its military control over the entire South China Sea expanse by wholesale construction of military facilities on artificial islands on reclaimed coral reefs poses a serious threat to Indo Pacific and global security and that merits an international response.